2010 Ford SVT F-150 Raptor

Son of a Trophy Truck, the Raptor is genuinely off-road ready.

Ford SVT's new pre-runner pickup sells on looks, but its reputation comes from what's inside the wheel wells. A leap forward in chassis sophistication, the Raptor shames all previous OEM attempts at a dirt-sport truck.

Built strictly as an extended cab, short-bed, 4-wheel drive pickup, the Raptor is powered by 320-bhp 5.4-liter V-8, with a more desirable, all-new 400-bhp 6.2-liter sohc V-8 available in early 2010. It's not that the 5.4 is a dud, it's that the Raptor's earth-trembling 5863-lb. curb weight demands all the muscle available, especially on the street.

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But on the loose stuff it all comes right. Internal-bypass shock absorbers from Fox Racing along with SVT's unique, 7-in.-wider-than-stock suspension are simply unprecedented in a pickup. Dirt-bike-like suspension travel — 11.2 in. front and 12.1 in. rear — begs to run over rough terrain, with plush action in whoops or over gnarly square-edged stuff. And instead of having the stability control electronics ruin a good time, SVT gives you an off or mute button for them. Tail-hanging action is rewarded but a safety net remains should enthusiasm overstep physics. Likewise, the 4wd picks its way through the rocks and grabs in the mud, although at three tons the Raptor doesn't make like a pontoon boat on gooey ground. A ripping exhaust note makes tearing out of sand washes the fulfillment of Trophy Truck dreams, however.

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Like all SVT products, the Raptor retains real-world utility with a 1020-lb. payload and 6000-lb. tow ratings. The street ride is surprisingly taut, with only boat-like body roll as the inevitable result of the tall ride height and long-travel suspension. Street performance is just adequate with the 5.4, and hard cornering is a mushy roll onto the very quiet BFGoodrich tires, but by any measure the Raptor does all expected and then some on the street.

Raptor visuals start with its tall and wide stance; color choices range from appliance white to metallic orange with slash graphics, the latter being optional. The wide bodywork demands discrete LED running lights, and the cast-aluminum front suspension arms are easily visible; and all told, the Raptor has a look of mechano-organic menace. Pricing is a competitive $38,020 with the 5.4 and $41,020 with the 6.2. Ford uncaged its first Raptor in August with plenty more in the nursery.